For a while before the pandemic, I was into playing billiards. This hobby came to a halt when covid hit since all the pool halls were closed.
In early 2021, a pool hall called Samwon Billiard in Oakland Koreatown was reopening. I texted Kevin, my pool buddy, to see if he was interested. Kevin and I hadn’t met in person for over a year. Both of us hadn’t yet been vaccinated at that point. We deliberated but quickly decided that the risk was worth it as long as we wore a mask. It had been too long since we last played.
Once we decided to go, I grew excited. “I’m actually shaking. This is a dream lol.” Kevin texted back.
Thomas, the owner of the billiard business, is a mellow, soft-spoken Korean man in his sixties. The pool hall has been around since the mid-90s. I asked Thomas why he went into this business.
“The previous owner missed rent and left. The landlord was looking for someone to take over,” he said. “I was somewhat keen on billiards. A pool business didn’t seem hard to operate. But boy, that street was truly scary in the 90s… lots of crimes and gun violence back then.”
Thomas often checked in on his customers. He would clean the tables himself, offered snacks, and–if you were up for it–show you to how to play Korean pool on the table without pockets.
A year and a half ago, Kevin shared with Thomas that he would leave the Bay Area and move to New York, so it could be a while until he visited again. On Kevin’s last visit, Thomas bought us Korean dinners with galbi, japchae, and chicken. He offered his private soju for farewell.
Recently, I heard that Samwon is closing next month. The area will be rebuilt as apartments. I also heard Thomas is happy to take a break after working hard for 30 years.